Combined high chair and ladder



Feb. 5, 1952 P. R. SCHILLING 2,584,742

COMBINED HIGH CHAIR AND LADDER Filed March 23, 1950 v 2 Sl-lEETS-Sl-1EET l r a v IN VEN TOR.

AZTORIZEYS,

P. R. SCHILLING COMBINED HIGH CHAIR AND LADDER Feb. 5, 1952 Filed March 23, 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 IN VEN TOR.

I" III Patented Feb. 5, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COMBINED HIGH CHAIR AND LADDER Philip R. Schilling, Benton Harbor, Mich.

Application March 23, 1950, Serial No. 151,367

4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to the combination of a childs high chair and ladder, and it is an object of this invention to produce the combination of a high chair and ladder which are rigidly secured together in back to back relation each to provide one of the supports for the other with a common frame for supporting the assembly in a manner safe for its intended use by a child.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention in a combined childs high chair and ladder will hereinafter appear and for purposes of illustration, but not of limitation, embodiments of this invention are shown in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a perspective elevational view of a structure embodying features of my invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the combined high chair and ladder shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional elevational view taken along the line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a perspective elevational view of a modification of a combined high chair and ladder embodying features of this invention;

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the embodiment shown in Figure 4; and

Figure 6 is a sectional elevational view taken along the line 6--6 of Figure 5.

As shown in Figures 4 to 6 inclusive, the combined high chair and climbing steps of the ladder are formed with a pair of spaced side frames I0 and l I which may be cut of sheet stock such as plywood, plastics, or metal or else they may be assembled of regular lumber to form the desired panels.

A plurality of steps [2a, I21), I and l2d are fixed as by glue, nails or screws upon rests I3 secured to the respective inner walls of the frame members to space the steps one in advance of the other with a vertical spacing convenient for climbing or walking by the smallest child. The end walls of the step members may be further secured to the adjacent side Walls of the frame members to join the members and form a more rigid and sturdy construction.

The top step lZd of the ladder steps is at about the same level as the seat member M which also rests on supporting strips l5 secured to the inner walls of the frame members to position the seat forwardly of the top step. Since the top step [2d and the high chair seat M are on the same level one may be the continuation of the other so that they may be formed as a unitary member of plywood, laminated material, plastics or the like.

An upright member l6 separates the seat mem-- ber I4 from the top step lZd all the way across and is secured at its ends to the inner walls of the side frame members iii and H. The upright poses a barrier to the child which can easily be spanned by climbing as a child is very anxious to do, and, at the same time, it functions as a back rest for the seat It when used as a high chair.

Spaced a short distance below the forward edge of the seat, the frame members are each formed with a forwardly extending section I l immediately below a notched section l8 for supporting a foot rest is or shelf in the form of a rectangular plank which is of a width dimensioned to seat within the cut out or notched portions l8 and overlie the forwardly extending supports ii.

The side frame members extend above the steps and seat to prevent the child from falling off. The upper edge portions of the side frame members constitute guide rails within the reach of the child to assist the child in climbing the stairs and straddling the upright to reach the seat. The portion of the side frame members below the stairs and seat may be cut away, as shown, but it will be apparent that the extreme ends are adapted to function as the front and rear legs for the entire structure. As a result it is almost impossible to tip the structure, as is the case with the usual childs high chair.

, Another advantage of an assembly of the type I described resides in the encouragement it gives the child to climb into his own high chair but from a direction and in a manner which will not disturb the rest of the table or necessitate movement of the high chair toward or away from the table.

To encourage climbing and also to provide a further educational value to the assembly, the steps, seat and foot rest may be consecutively numbered and differently colored.

In the modification shown in Figures 1 to 3 inclusive, the side frame members are formed of tubular elements with the forward and rearward end portions resting upon the ground to provide forward and rearward legs 20 and 2|, respectively. The steps 22 may be formed of sheet metal of sufficient gauge to support the weight of one Or a few children. One end portion of the sheet metal steps is secured, as by riveting, welding, bolting or other fastening means, to one of the upright portions 23 of the laterally spaced upright tubular frame members. An intermediate step, such as the third step 220, is secured to a horizontally disposed tubular element 30 connecting an intermediate portion of the stair rails 24 with an intermediate portion of the upright tubular members 25 to which the forward edge portion of the seat 26 and the rearward portion of the foot rest 21 is secured.

As shown in the drawing, the seat member 26 and the steps 22 may be formed of a single strip of metal with the upright section 28 therebetween. It will be understood that this unit may also be formed of separate sections and that additional supports and frame sections may be provided to impart greater stability to the assembly. The tubular frame elements are contoured to provide rails spaced upwardly from the stairs 22, upright 28 and seat 26 but within reach of the child. The rail portion turns downwardly in the region of the upright to engage the upper edge portion of the upright and then levels off to provide arm rests 29 for the seat portion.

As in the wooden unit previously described, the steps, seat and foot rest may be consecutively numbered and difierently colored.

When used as a high chair, it will be understood that the usual tray member may be slidably mounted for horizontal adjustment on the arm rests 29. When the tray members are omitted, the chair assumes the role of a junior chair.

It will be further understood that numerous changes may be made in the details of construction, arrangement and operation without departing from the spirit of the invention, especial- 1y as defined in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. The structure which includes the combination of a childs high chair and climbing steps facing in opposite directions comprising a seat at the level for a child's high chair, a foot rest spaced below and extending forwardly of the seat, a series of steps behind the seat having the top step at about the level of the seat, an upright between the top step and the seat of a height capable of being straddled by the child 4 while at the same time functioning as a back rest for the seat, and spaced side frames fixedly uniting all of the elements in their desired relation while providing side rails above the steps, upright and seat to assist the child in climbing up the steps and over the upright and providing a barrier which minimizes falling from the assembly.

2. The combination ladder and high chair as claimed in claim 1 wherein the side rails are at an angle corresponding to the stairs and then dip to a level above the seat to provide an arm rest for the child.

3. The combination ladder and high chair as claimed in claim 1 wherein the steps, seat and foot rest are consecutively numbered to provide an educational device for the child while at the same. time encouraging the child to climb into the high chair by way of the ladder.

4. A combined ladder steps and child's high chair as claimed in claim 1 wherein the side frames comprise widely spaced apart pairs of legs, one pair corresponding to what would be the front legs of the high chair while the other pair of legs correspond to what would be the bottom of the lowermost and farthest step structure.

PHILIP R. SCHILLING.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date D. 157,835 Burd Mar. 28, 1950 821,391 Wiltse May 22, 1906 1,700,959 Street Feb. 5, 1929 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 51,925 Switzerland Apr. 12, 1910 

